The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1887-02-26
A Crime Against tho People.
From the Newark Sentinel.

From the Newark Sentinel.
In desperate defiance of all public de,
cency and justice, the ALBEIT managers
have finally consummated their conspirs
acy against popular rights and have seat-
ed two men in he Assembly who have
not been elected. Discussion of this
last proposition is needless. Neither
Turley nor Walter was elected and the
Democrats know that as we'll as anybody
else can know it. The Turley case is
the more fragrant of the two, because the
crime against the purity of the ballot-
box was more pronounced in this in
stance, Here was man claiming a
seat to which he had not been chosen.
A committee selected by his own politi-
cal friends investigated his claim and
majority reported that he was not enti-
tied to his seat. The evidence in the
case showed that a burglary had been
committed on the ballot>box. The will
OF the voters, as expressed at the cleo
ton, had been deliberately thwarted and
their choice had been changed from
Haines to Turley. There is no attempt
to deny these damning facts. There
they are, in all their brutal criminality,
in the gaze of every citizen--a lasting
disgrace to the State of New Jersey. In
deed, so conclusive is the evidence of
this villany that even the attorneys for
farley were forced to admit that he had
not been elected; and they only begged
that new election should be held in
that district. But, by a series OF politi-
cal maneuvres, the Albeit gang finally
found themselves in a position that gave
them the power to seat Turley; and they
quickly repeated their spasmodic con-
sideration and resolved to take the seat,
regardless of law, regardless of the facts,
and regardless of consequences. This
they have done. They stole the seat OF
the Third Assembly District, Camden
county, because they wanted it and be-
cause they could steal it. In like man.
ner, the men who have been guilty oil
this infamy are entirely capable OF steal
ing well filled purse because they want
it and because they can. But a theft oil
ballot box is greater crime than the
theft of sum of money. 1t is more far
reaching in its effects. 1t strikes at the
foundations of an orderly government.
These men, guilty of this crime against
the people OF New Jersey, seem to be
reckless of consequences. After us,
the deluge," they say. Let the con,
sequences take care of themselves, SO
long as we can steal the Senatorship p
is what they are in effect, saying among
each other. But, whatever is the out
come OF the present struggle for the Sem
atorship, nothing can undo this crime.
1t is accomplished, and even if it were
possible 70 revoke the action taken
Thursday and change the record, the
Democratic party of the State of New
Jersey stands to-day and for all time con-
victed of crime against popular liberty.
The State has fallen upon evil days when
base politician, by the corrupt use Of
money and by resorting to felonious
means, can battle the will of the people
and close the door OF the Capitol against
men who have been lawfully elected re-
representatives.. Of infinitely greater mo-
hent isft tiIaii the q isiiatll ri ates sena-
torship that the sanctity OF the ballot
shall be preserved and defended When
| it is possible that the power OF money
shall take the place OF the people, will;
when bad men, by trick and device, shall
crawl into places to which they have no
lawful right; when popular elections be-
come farce and the longest purse and
strongest arm win the fight, then the
rights of the people are no longer secure;
and We are at the mercy Of political adj
venturers, hucksters and their tools. To-
| day we have the disgraceful spectacle in
New Jersey Of legislative majority Sc.
cured by a series of acknowledged
crimes. Not Albeit, Hudspeth, McDer-
mott and others of the gang will be alone
held responsible for this nfamy. The
honest citizens OF New Jersey, who re-
gard their rights and liberties and the
fundamental principles OF our governs
ment more highly than any official hon :.
ors or emoluments-the plain people
are regarding this shocking affair with
genuine anxiety and indignation. The
triumph Of the wicked is short. These
infamous men may chuckle and smile
derisively now; but a day OF reckoning
will come for them. There is enough
manliness and virtue left in New Jersey
to rise up and rebuke this great crime !;
and whatever political advantage may be
temporarily secured by the success OF
the conspiracy will cost the conspirators
dearly. We shall hold the Democratic
party responsible for this wicked subver-
sion of popular rights. The knell OF
that party's supremacy in the State has
been struck at last and when the shorts
lived victory of crime shall have LOST its
savoriness, the bitter consequences will
be visited upon the heads of the crimin-
ais. 1t is impossible that an outrage like
this shall not, eventually, work out Its
own calamitous lesson. Sooner or later,
the evil that men do recoils upon them.
The man who may chiefly profit by this
wickedness must expect to livewith a
tainted name.
Chancellor Runyon has granted an
absolute divorce to Britton NJ Bennett,
builder at Spring Lake Beach, from
Lydia A. Bennett. Mrs. Bennett, who is
the eldest daughter of VIM. Fairy, OF
Farmingdale, was married twelve years
ago, when she was about eighteen years
old. She had one child, sou. In 1884